Adjustable bed rail connector



Aug.

Filed July 28, 1938 iii W ,5 20 1 4 2 2/ B I 1/ i J .B 13 6 mazlrcam Patented Aug. 8, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to means for connecting the ends of the side rails of a bedstead to the corner posts of the head and the foot of the bedstead, and has for its general object to provide,

5 for this and analogous purposes, a simple, practical connecting means which facilitates the making of the connections, which is readily adjustable to assure a tight fit of the ends of the side rails against the corner posts, and which may be locked in adjustedposition to eliminate any possibility of looseness or play between the side rails and the corner posts.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will become more fully apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts in related views:

Figure 1 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of a corner of a bedstead illustrating a side rail connected to a corner post by a connecting means constructed in accordance with one practical embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a horizontal section on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a detail section on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1; and

Figure 4 is a View similar to Fig. 1 illustrating an alternative embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawing in detail, first with particular reference to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs, 1 to 3, A and B designate, respectively, a corner post and a side rail of a bedstead of the type in which the corner post A has a slot l opening through the face thereof against which the end of the side rail B abuts; in which a pair of vertically spaced pins H, H extend across said slot, and in which the side rail is provided with a plate l2 which extends beyond the end of said rail and has a pair of vertically spaced terminal fingers I3, I 3 for engagement with the pins l I, I l to connect the side rail with the post.

The plate 12 is disposed in a recess [4 in the side rail B and is covered by a plate I5 rigidly secured to said side rail, either against or flush with the inner face of said rail, as may be desired.

In the plate i5 is a vertical slot l6 and in the plate I2 is a slot H which is inclined downwardly and toward the outer end of said plate at an angle of less than forty-five degrees relative to the slot it. I

Extending through the slots !6 and I! is a bolt i8 which is provided with a nut ii! to be tightened to clamp the plate l2 unmovably against the plate E5.

The plate I? also has a horizontal slot 20 in which is disposed a protuberance 2i struck from the plate iii. The plate !2 thus is held against rotation about the bolt i8 relative to the plate 15 and also against vertical movement relative to said plate I5 and the side rail B, but is free to move longitudinally relative to said side rail. Moreover, due to the relative inclination of the slots i6 and il, it is apparent that by sliding the bolt i8 upwardly in said slots the plate l2 will be projected relative to the side rail B, and that by sliding said bolt downwardly in said slots the plate i? will be retracted relative to the side rail. Accordingly, by first sliding the bolt 18 upwardly in the slots l6 and I? to project the plate i2, engagement of the fingers l3, l3 of said plate with the pins H, H may be greatly facilitated. By then tapping the bolt downwardly in the slots l5 and ii the plate [2 will be retracted relative to the side rail and this will result in the side rail being drawn toward the post until the end of the side rail tightly abuts the post. By then tightening the nut IS the plate [2 may be locked against movement relative to the side rail to maintain the side rail in tightly connected relationship to the corner post. To prevent rotation of the bolt it during tightening of the nut is, said bolt may have flat side faces to engage the side walls of either or both of the slots l6 and IT.

According to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 4 the construction is the same as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, except that the plate I2 is disposed against the outer face of the plate l5, instead of against the inner face of said plate and within a recess in the side rail as in the Figs. 1 to 3 construction. Ihe Fig. 4 construction is particularly adapted as a quick and easy replacement connecting means for existing bedsteads, inasmuch as it does not require recessing of the side rail B except to accommodate the head of the bolt It. It may, however, be used as an original connecting means; that is, a factory installed connecting means. On the other hand, the Figs. 1 to 3 construction is more particularly intended as an original or factory installation, but, as is apparent, this construction may also be employed as a repair or replacement connecting means.

As is apparent, the present connecting means is simple, inexpensive, easily installed, permits side rails to readily and easily be connected with corner posts and enables a tight fit between a side rail and any of a number of difierent corner posts to be effected and maintained regardless of variations in spacing of the pins l I, I I of the corner posts from the faces thereof against which the end of the side rail abuts.

Without further description it is thought that the features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and it will of course be understood that changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Means for connecting a bedstead side rail with a bedstead post comprising a plate fastened rigidly to the side rail and having a substantially vertical slot, a second plate at one side of said first mentioned plate and having a slot inclined with respect to the slot of said first mentioned plate, a finger on said second mentioned plate for engagement with a pin carried by the post to hold said second mentioned plate against movement downwardly and away from the post, means comprising a projection on one of said plates disposed in a horizontal slot in the other plate holding said second mentioned plate against vertical movement relative to said first mentioned plate, said second mentioned plate being horizontally movable relative to said. first mentioned plate, and a bolt extending through the slots in said plate for adjustment to move the second mentioned plate horizontally relative to the first mentioned plate and for locking said plates together.

2. Means for connecting a bedstead side rail to a bedstead post comprising a plate fastened rigidly to the side rail, a second plate at one side of said first mentioned plate, a finger on said second mentioned plate for engagement with a pin carried by the post to hold said second mentioned plate against movement downwardly and away from the post, means comprising a projection on one of said plates disposed in a horizontal slot in the other plate guiding the second mentioned plate for horizontal movement relative to the first mentioned plate and holding the same against vertical movement relative to the first mentioned plate, said plates respectively having relatively inclined slots disposed relatively to each other at an angle of less than forty-five degrees and one of which is substantially vertically disposed, a bolt extending through said slots and adjustble therein to move the second mentioned plate horizontally relative to the first mentioned plate, and a nut on said bolt for cooperation with said bolt to clamp the plates together.

DANIEL W. CAUSEY. 

